Vi here — Ultra Violette’s Chief SKINSCREEN™ Queen. You know we’re obsessed with making sunscreens that feel amazing, but did you know we also put them through rigorous testing to ensure you’re getting the very best sun protection that you can trust to future-proof your skin? Let me walk you through how we make sure our SKINSCREENS™ are the very best in the world...
SPF Testing: The Science Behind the Shade
Here’s the deal: sunscreen testing is hardcore, especially in Australia. In fact, we have some of the strictest regulations globally!
The sun doesn't just shine here, it scorches – so much so that our sunburnt country has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Sunscreens are such an important daily essential that they’re considered a drug and regulated as such. For a sunscreen to get an SPF 50+ rating, it must pass the AS/NZS 2604 standard, which includes:
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ISO 24444: A test where sunscreen is applied to 10 human subjects and exposed to UV light to measure how long it takes for redness (aka erythema) to appear, compared to without. If our SKINSCREENS™ don’t hit SPF 60 or higher, they don’t get that 50+ label.
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ISO 24443: This test checks UVA protection in vitro (science speak for “in a lab”). To be broad spectrum, UVA protection must be at least one-third of the SPF rating and hit a critical wavelength of 370nm.
Basically, solar simulators are used to make sure our formulas can handle the Aussie sun — and then some. Oh, and for our US friends? We test those formulas to both FDA and AU/NZ standards, because we’re extra like that.
Additional Testing: Above & Beyond
At Ultra Violette, we like to go the extra mile (or ten) beyond regular testing standards to ensure our SKINSCREENS™ hold up to how you’ll actually use them in your routines. Case in point: Daydream Screen™ SPF 50. Typically, mixing sunscreens together is a big no-no because it can mess with the UV filters’ ability to form a film and protect your skin. But we know this is how people like to use it, so we undertook additional compatibility testing to ensure it 1. plays nice with our other SPF formulas, and 2. it still delivers the level of SPF protection listed on the bottle. We invested in these additional tests (over and above what is legally required), for Vi to give her final tick of approval.
Stability Testing: Built Tough
Ever wondered why your Ultra Violette sunscreen doesn’t morph into a clumpy mess in your beach bag? That’s thanks to stability testing. We stress-test our formulas in high heat and humidity for six months (think tropical holiday vibes, but for sunscreen), then keep them at room temp for up to three years.
During this process, we check:
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That the sunscreen filters are within the specifications for this formula (i.e. the SPF % hasn’t dropped over time)
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How thick or runny it is (aka viscosity)
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How it looks and smells
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Levels of active ingredients and preservatives
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Microbial safety (no nasties like bacteria or mould allowed!)
The result? Sunscreens that stay fresh and effective no matter what life — or summer — throws at them.
Manufacturing Standards: No Shortcuts Here
Sunscreens are classified as therapeutic drugs in Australia, the US, and Canada, which means they’re held to super-strict manufacturing standards. Every batch of SKINSCREENS™ gets checked for consistency before release — appearance, scent, thickness, active ingredients—you name it. If it doesn’t pass? It doesn’t make it onto shelves. Simple as that.
Safety First: Globally Approved
Vi doesn't mess around when it comes to safety. Our formulas are independently assessed by toxicologists in every market we sell in — from Australia to Europe and beyond — to make sure they’re safe for use as directed. So, whether you’re slathering on Supreme or Future Screen™, you can trust it’s been through all the hoops (and then some) for safe, trustworthy future-proofing.
Why Ultra Violette?
Here at UV HQ, we’re a team of beauty junkies turned product-developers who take sun safety ultra seriously, testing every formula in every which way, despite the cost. Utilising the latest SPF technology and the best manufacturers, we create (and own) the best formulas on the market – no off-the-shelf formulations to see! Product efficacy is at our core at UV, so much so that our team has expanded to include in-house chemists and regulatory specialists to ensure we’re constantly delivering top notch SPF.
Ultra Violette is all about creating sunscreen that you actually want to wear – because it feels good, makes your makeup last all day and instantly boosts your glow with skin-sweetening ingredients. All while giving you the very best sun protection.
TLDR; Our sunscreens are tough enough for Aussie summers but luxe enough for everyday wear — and honestly? They’re better than anything else you’ll find on the planet. Ready to meet your new fave SPF?
SHOP ULTRA VIOLETTE SKINSCREENS™
Want more SPF science-y info? You didn’t think this was Vi’s only blog on the topic did you?!
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Deep dive into the testing behind mixing your fave Screens together, HERE
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Find out why sunscreen won’t make you Vitamin D deficient, HERE
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Bust SPF Myths with Michelle Wong (who has a PhD in chemistry!!), HERE
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Make sense of the differences between Mineral and Chemical Sunscreen HERE
